Improvement in surge-relievers for steering apparatus



R. MOUNTFORT.

SURGE-RELIEVERS FOR STEERING APPARATUS.

No.-191,070. Patented MayZZ,18'77.

' ATTIIBNEYS.

MPHERS. PHOTQ-LITNQGRAPHER. WASHINGTON D O.

ROBERT M. MOUNI'FORT, OF BRUNSWICK, MAINE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SURGE-RELIEVERS FOR STEERING APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 191,070, dated May 2%, 1877; application filed February 17, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT M. MOUNT- FORT, of Brunswick, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented a new and Improved Tackle- Block for Rudder- Heads, of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a top View of a rudder-head, with my improved tackle-blocks attached; Fig. 2, a vertical transverse section of the stern of a vessel on line .00 m, Fig. 1, showing tackleblocks in end view; and Figs. 3 and 4 are detail side and top views of my improved tackleblock.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention is intended to prevent the twisting oil of the rudder from the rudderhead by the pressure or power of the waves dashing on the rudder; and it consists of cushioning devices attached to the tackleblocks at both sides of the rudder-head.

In the drawing, A represents the rudderhead of a vessel, which is connected by ropes B passing over tackle-blocks a at both sides of the rudder-head, and over fixed blocks b at both. sides of the vessel, to the shaft of the steering-wheel, being wound in opposite directhereon, to govern thereby the rudder in the customary manner.

Intermediately between the rudder-head A and side blocks a is interposed a cushioning device, 0, which is pivoted to fixed lugs or ears d of the rudder-head, and connected by a central rod, 0, that passes through the U- shaped cylindrical or other casing G of the cushioning devices to the tackle-block a, the rod 6, binding by an end plate or disk, f, guided along casing c on a rubber or other elastic spring-block, g, and passing centrally through the same.

Any violent shocks or jerks on the rudder by the pressure of the waves are taken up by the cushioning-blocks g, so that the rudder is not twisted 011' from the rudder-head by the power of the shocks, while in heavy weather the steering is rendered easier and less fatiguing, as the powerful shocks are not transmitted to the steering-wheel as at present, but taken up or neutralized more or less by the elastic blocks.

I am aware that it is not broadly new in a steering apparatus to use slides with springs to take the shock of the waves; but,

What I claim as new, and of my invention, is-

In a steering apparatus, the case 0, pivoted between head A and blocks a, and connected by a central rod. c, with the tackling-block, in combination with a spring, g, arranged substantially as and for the purpose specified.

ROBERT M. MOUNTFORT.

Witnesses:

GEo. A. WooDsroE, O. G. BURGESS. 

